LAUSR

Key Points Question What are the comparative costs and benefits of physician continuous professional development (CPD) for drug prescribing? Findings In this systematic review of 38 studies, CPD was associated with reduced health care costs (median drug cost savings of $79 373) compared with no training. More intensive CPD (compared with no training or less intensive interventions) was associated with improved effectiveness (prescribing) outcomes but incurred greater education costs (incremental cost of $3 to $4105 per physician per standardized effectiveness change). Meaning These results suggest that physician CPD for drug prescribing is associated with reduced health care costs and that both effectiveness outcomes and costs should be considered when making education decisions.